MYSTERY surrounds the closure of an Italian restaurant in Dursley, which has shut after just six months of trading.

Reid’s Winebar, at the top of Parsonage Street, opened for trade in November last year, but after six months of mixed reviews and issues over licensing the restaurant has closed.

It finally closed on April 22 and earlier this month the sign from the front of the building was removed.

Philip Walker, from B. Walker & Co who own the building, confirmed the restaurant had ceased trading but new occupants were now being sought for it to open as a restaurant again as soon as possible.

He said: "Negotiations are taking place that it will open as a restaurant."

Mr Walker declined to comment on why the restaurant closed but in March Stroud District Council advised the owners they did not have a licence for the sale of alcohol and demanded all alcohol sales stop immediately.

A spokesman for the local authority said an application for a premises-licence had not been made and added anyone who decided to re-open the restaurant would have to apply for a licence before they could sell alcohol.

When Reid’s opened last year it was seen by some as a flagship of regeneration in Dursley town centre but the redevelopment of the former Warehouse nightclub has been plagued with problems since the venue closed more than five years ago.

The site, which includes 22 homes on land to the back of the building, stalled in 2008 when previous owners Cotswoldgate went into administration during the credit crunch.

However, the project took on a new lease of life when developer Eden Stone Homes took over and the homes were completed. In October 2010 the former nightclub was granted permission for change of use to a restaurant and shop front.